Integrated Agricultural Pest Management
Integrated agricultural pest management is a traditional strength of the Department. The Entomology faculty has remained extremely active in the generation and dissemination of commodity-related research. Research advances have included identification of insect growth regulators and other pesticides with minimal non-target effects, evaluation of optimal timing and dosage of pesticide application, evaluation of alternative control methods (including insect-resistant crop varieties, biological control agents, and elimination of overwintering habitats), identification of molecular mechanisms of insecticide-resistance in various insect species, development of non-GMO refuge strategies to delay resistance development, evaluation of establishment and dispersal rate of biological control agents, and precision agriculture techniques using GIS methods to target management to critical areas. Commodity-related research within the Department of Entomology has been extended to growers in more than 100 presentations per year at meetings attended by growers, consultants, and representatives of the agrochemical industry. The breadth of graduate training in agricultural pest management research has been increased through collaboration with scientists at other universities and institutions. At present, 17 faculty (including 13 Graduate Faculty members) are involved in this program area.
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